Carlos Alcaraz experienced a stunning defeat at the US Open, losing to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4, during the second round.
After double-faulting and falling behind two sets to none—a deficit he has never overcome—Alcaraz left the court visibly frustrated, signaling to his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, that he was struggling mentally.
“It was a battle against myself throughout the match,” Alcaraz reflected. “In tennis, you’re competing against someone who wants to win just as much as you do, and you need to stay as calm as possible to think clearly and perform well. Today, I was not only facing my opponent but also battling my own emotions, which I couldn’t control.”
The loss marked the end of Alcaraz’s impressive 15-match Grand Slam winning streak and was unexpected given his status as the tournament’s third seed and recent successes, including titles at the French Open and Wimbledon.
In a parallel match, former US Open champion Naomi Osaka also exited the tournament, losing to Karolina Muchova in straight sets, but Alcaraz’s defeat was particularly surprising given his strong track record at Flushing Meadows, where he had never lost before the quarterfinals in his previous three appearances.
Alcaraz acknowledged that his rigorous schedule, which included winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, may have left him fatigued. “I probably arrived here with less energy than I expected,” he admitted, refraining from using that as an excuse.
Throughout the match, Alcaraz struggled to find his rhythm, making numerous uncharacteristic errors. He entered the game with a 16-2 record at the US Open and had never lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event.
History made for 🇳🇱 at the US Open pic.twitter.com/pSjrlbcR6k
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2024
Van de Zandschulp, ranked 74th, delivered an impressive performance, winning 28 out of 35 points at the net. Alcaraz found himself in a lopsided first set, failing to register a single winner and losing nearly twice as many total points, 24-13. Although he showed some improvement in the second set, a double fault led to a crucial service break that allowed Van de Zandschulp to take a 6-5 lead, ultimately winning the set.
In the third set, Alcaraz initially fell behind again but managed to break back to level the score at 3-3. However, his errors continued to mount, and Van de Zandschulp maintained his composure to secure the victory.
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“This is a huge moment for me,” Van de Zandschulp said, expressing disbelief at his win. “I’m still processing everything. I felt confident from the start.”
Alcaraz’s defeat marks a significant upset in the tournament’s history, as he is the first top-three men’s seed to exit in the first two rounds since 2006. The early exit leaves the draw wide open for other competitors, including Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev, who are now among the favorites to advance.
